Revolution Add Two Players In 2022 MLS SuperDraft, Including Goalkeeper Jacob Jackson At 24th Overall
FOXBORO (CBS) -- The New England Revolution drafted two players in Tuesday's 2022 MLS SuperDraft, selecting Loyola Marymount goalkeeper Jacob Jackson with the 24th pick and UCLA defender Ben Reveno with the 52nd selection.
Jackson, 21, spent three the last three seasons as a starter for Loyola Marymount, posting a 26-8-8 career record for the Lions. The Escondido, California native was named the West Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and an All-WCC First Team selection in each of the last two seasons. He set a career high with 11 wins in 2021, allowing only 12 goals over 17 games while turning in eight shutouts.
Jackson went unbeaten (6-0-3) during the 2021 spring season, allowing only two goals across 870 minutes to become just the second goalkeeper in WCC history to post a goals against average of under 0.25 in a season. He also holds the Loyola Marymount record for most consecutive scoreless minutes (560) in a season.
"Jacob is a guy who was identified by Kevin Hitchcock, our goalkeeper coach, and he clearly knows what he is looking for in goalkeepers," said Player Recruitment Manager Chris Tierney. "[Jackson] has a good athletic profile, had a good college career and will get working with Kevin right away. I think Kevin thinks he'll be able to turn him into a good goalkeeper in this league."
It's an interesting pick for New England, considering they employ Matt Turner, the 2021 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Maybe the Revs know that Turner has his eyes on something bigger than Major League Soccer in the coming years.
As for Jackson, he was thrilled to be drafted by New England. But he was also a little concerned, and it has nothing to do with the guy slotted in front of him.
"The first thought that went through my head was, 'Do I have a warm enough jacket to survive the winter?'" Jackson said during a conference call on Wednesday. "I'm from California, it's really hot, so I'm not used to the cold. But when I first found out, I was really excited and kind of nervous, just kind of asking myself 'Am I ready for this?' And then, with help from my parents and my brother, they all told me that 'You're ready, you're good enough to be here in the draft and you're good enough to get selected.' So, just go have fun and enjoy the experience."
Jackson added that he is excited to learn from Turner. He hopes to emulate the keeper's calm and cool ways in net, and New England's winning ways in general.
"Watching Matt Turner play on TV, everything about him looks just so calm and so natural. So, just kind of figuring out how he gets to that," said Jackson. "Sometimes I get a little excited and amped up playing. But just seeing him being so calm and all that stuff, that's just kind of the questions I want to ask. And just how they do it, how they wake up every morning, and how they continue putting in the best efforts they can to help the team succeed."
In Reveno, New England added a versatile defender who the club says can play as a center back or right back. The 23-year-old played five seasons of collegiate soccer, spending the past three years at UCLA following a two-year stint at UC Irvine. Reveno made 49 appearances for the Bruins, including 47 starts, scoring one goal and adding six assists.
A native of San Jose, California, Reveno helped UCLA earn an NCAA Tournament bid this past fall and earned a selection to the United Soccer Coaches Far West All-Region Second Team.